Cedar tree named ‘Monkinn’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of Cedar tree named ‘Monkinn’, characterized by its compact and low spreading plant habit; relatively slow-growing growth habit; freely branching habit, dense and bushy plant form; young leaves that are greyed yellow in color becoming golden yellow with development and maintaining the golden yellow coloration throughout the winter; and leaves that are resistant to sun-burning.

Botanical designation: Cedrus deodara.

Cultivar denomination: ‘MONKINN’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present Invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Cedar tree, botanically known as Cedrus deodara, and hereinafter referred to by the name ‘Monkinn’.

The new Cedar tree is a naturally-occurring whole plant mutation of Cedrus deodara ‘Feelin Blue’, not patented. The new Cedar tree was discovered and selected by the Inventor as a single tree during the spring of 2004 within a population of trees of ‘Feelin Blue’ in a controlled outdoor nursery environment in Dayton, Oreg.

Asexual reproduction of the new Cedar tree by grafting in a controlled environment in Dayton, Oreg. since December 2006 has shown that the unique features of this new Cedar tree are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Trees of the new Cedar have not been observed under all possible environmental conditions and cultural practices. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environmental conditions such as temperature and light intensity without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the unique characteristics of ‘Monkinn’. These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘Monkinn’ as a new and distinct Cedar tree:

-   -   1. Compact and low spreading plant habit.     -   2. Relatively slow-growing growth habit.     -   3. Freely branching habit, dense and bushy plant form.     -   4. Young leaves that are greyed yellow in color becoming golden         yellow with development and maintaining the golden yellow         coloration throughout the winter.     -   5. Leaves that are resistant to sun-burning.

Trees of the new Cedar are most similar to trees of the parent, ‘Feelin Blue’. In side-by-side comparison, trees of the new Cedar differ primarily from trees of ‘Feelin Blue’ in leaf coloration as trees of ‘Feelin Blue’ have greyish blue-colored leaves.

Trees of the new Cedar can also be compared to trees of Cedrus deodara ‘Golden Horizon’, not patented. Trees of the new Cedar differ from trees of ‘Golden Horizon’ in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Trees of the new Cedar are low spreading and are not as         mounding as trees of ‘Golden Horizon’.     -   2. Trees of the new Cedar are slower growing and more compact         than plants of ‘Golden Horizon’.     -   3. Trees of the new Cedar and ‘Golden Horizon’ differ in leaf         color as fully expanded leaves of plants of ‘Golden Horizon’ are         yellow green in color.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying colored photographs illustrate the overall appearance of the new Cedar tree showing the colors as true as it is reasonably possible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in the photographs may differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailed botanical description which accurately describe the colors of the new Cedar tree.

The photograph at the top of the sheet is a side perspective view of a typical tree of ‘Monkinn’ grown in a container.

The photograph at the bottom of the sheet is a close-up view of typical branches of ‘Monkinn’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

Trees used for the aforementioned photographs and following observations and measurements were grown in five-gallon containers in Dayton, Oreg. during the autumn and winter in an outdoor nursery and under conditions which approximate commercial Cedar tree production. During the production of the trees, day temperatures ranged from 4° C. to 32° C. and night temperatures ranged from −2° C. to 15° C. Trees were 25 months old when the photographs and description were taken. In the following description, color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, 2007 Edition, except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Cedrus deodara ‘Monkinn’. -   Parentage: Naturally-occurring whole plant mutation of Cedrus     deodara ‘Feelin Blue’, not patented. -   Propagation:     -   -   Type.—By grafting. -   Plant description:     -   -   Plant and growth habit.—Compact and low spreading evergreen             shrub, rounded plant habit; relatively slow-growing growth             habit.         -   Branching habit.—Freely branching with about twelve lateral             branches developing per plant; dense and bushy plant form;             trees maintain their lower branches and foliage at the soil             level.         -   Plant height.—About 62 cm.         -   Plant diameter.—About 65 cm.         -   Trunk diameter at soil level.—About 2.4 cm.         -   Lateral branch description.—Length: About 36 cm. Diameter:             About 1.1 cm. Internode length: About 2.8 mm. Texture: Young             branches: Densely pubescent. Mature branches: Woody, rough.             Strength: Strong. Aspect: Upright to pendulous. Color: Young             branches: Close to 156B, becoming closer to 148A with             development. Mature branches: Close to N199A.         -   Leaf description.—Arrangement: Whorled to alternate becoming             fascicled on older branches. Length: About 2.3 cm; within             fascicles, about 1.5 cm. Width: About 1 mm. Shape: Acicular.             Apex: Apiculate. Base: Truncate. Margin: Entire. Texture,             upper and lower surface: Smooth, glabrous; stiff. Venation             pattern: Parallel. Color: Developing leaves, upper and lower             surfaces: Close to 161C. Fully expanded leaves, upper             surface: Close to 153A; venation, close to 138A; golden             color maintained throughout the winter; leaves resistant to             sun-burning. Fully expanded leaves, lower surface: Close to             146B; venation, close to 138A. Petioles: Length: About 1 mm.             Diameter: About 1 mm. Texture, upper and lower surfaces:             Smooth, glabrous. Color, upper surface: Close to 165C.             Color, lower surface: Close to 164D.         -   Cone description.—Cone development has not been observed on             trees of the new Cedar. -   Disease & pest resistance: Trees of the new Cedar have not been     noted to be resistant to pathogens or pests common to Cedar trees. -   Weather tolerance: Trees of the new Cedar tree have been observed to     be tolerant to drought, rain and wind. Trees of the new Cedar are     hardy to USDA Hardiness Zones 7 to 9. 

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct Cedar tree named ‘Monkinn’ as illustrated and described. 